Williams Is Healing From A Stroke

ONLY IN FLORIDA - What ever happened to...

January 19, 1992|By Michael McLeod, of The Sentinel Staff

Baseball hall of famer Ted Williams has been reclusive in retirement. Until recently, he lived in Islamorada in the Middle Keys, spending much of his time attending to two personal, post-baseball passions: fishing and tennis.

But lately, the former Boston Red Sox slugger -if you are of a certain age, you will remember him as ''the Splendid Splinter'' or simply ''The Kid'' -has been in the spotlight.

One reason was the 50-year anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, which had everyone looking back nostalgically on the year 1941 -which happened also to be a golden year in baseball history, thanks in no small part to Mr. Williams. It was in 1941 that Joe DiMaggio crafted his legendary 56-game hitting streak, and it was in 1941 that the Splendid Splinter hit over .400 -a feat no major leaguer has accomplished since then.

On the last day of the season, with one game left to play, Williams' average stood at .400, right on the nose. The manager wanted him to sit out the game to protect it -reasoning that if Ted had a bad day he might dip under the milestone mark. Williams refused. Then he went out and hit six for eight, jacking his average up to .406.

But then, the splinter always was one for great finishes. That same year, in the All-Star game, he hit a homer. Naturally, it was no ordinary homer, but a two-out, three-run, ninth-inning, game-winning blast.

In a nostalgic celebration of the 1941 baseball season, President George Bush invited DiMaggio and Williams for a Rose Garden ceremony at the White House last summer. When he was asked to speak, Williams was characteristically laconic.

''I've always realized what a lucky guy I've been in my life. I was born in America. I was a Marine. I served my country; I'm very, very proud of that. I got to play baseball. Had a chance to hit. I owe so very, very much to this game that I love so much.''

A staunch Republican, Williams added with a glance at Bush: ''I think you're doing a tremendous job. And I want you to know that you're looking at one of the greatest supporters you'll ever have.''

Williams, 73, suffered a minor stroke last month. He told friends he was recovering with no ill effects. True to form, The Kid didn't waste words in describing his condition. RIt didn't amount to anything,'' he said.